Word was despatched to Powhatan of his daughter’s duress, with a demand made for the restitution of goods; but although this savage is represented as dearly loving Pocahontas, his “delight and darling,” it was, according to Hamor, three months before they heard anything from him.  His anxiety about his daughter could not have been intense.  He retained a part of his plunder, and a message was sent to him that Pocahontas would be kept till he restored all the arms.

This answer pleased Powhatan so little that they heard nothing from him till the following March.  Then Sir Thomas Dale and Captain Argall, with several vessels and one hundred and fifty men, went up to Powhatan’s chief seat, taking his daughter with them, offering the Indians a chance to fight for her or to take her in peace on surrender of the stolen goods.  The Indians received this with bravado and flights of arrows, reminding them of the fate of Captain Ratcliffe.  The whites landed, killed some Indians, burnt forty houses, pillaged the village, and went on up the river and came to anchor in front of Matchcot, the Emperor’s chief town.  Here were assembled four hundred armed men, with bows and arrows, who dared them to come ashore.  Ashore they went, and a palaver was held.  The Indians wanted a day to consult their King, after which they would fight, if nothing but blood would satisfy the whites.

Two of Powhatan’s sons who were present expressed a desire to see their sister, who had been taken on shore.  When they had sight of her, and saw how well she was cared for, they greatly rejoiced and promised to persuade their father to redeem her and conclude a lasting peace.  The two brothers were taken on board ship, and Master John Rolfe and Master Sparkes were sent to negotiate with the King.  Powhatan did not show himself, but his brother Apachamo, his successor, promised to use his best efforts to bring about a peace, and the expedition returned to Jamestown.

“Long before this time,” Hamor relates, “a gentleman of approved behaviour and honest carriage, Master John Rolfe, had been in love with Pocahuntas and she with him, which thing at the instant that we were in parlee with them, myselfe made known to Sir Thomas Dale, by a letter from him [Rolfe] whereby he entreated his advice and furtherance to his love, if so it seemed fit to him for the good of the Plantation, and Pocahuntas herself acquainted her brethren therewith.”  Governor Dale approved this, and consequently was willing to retire without other conditions.  “The bruite of this pretended marriage [Hamor continues] came soon to Powhatan’s knowledge, a thing acceptable to him, as appeared by his sudden consent thereunto, who some ten daies after sent an old uncle of hirs, named Opachisco, to give her as his deputy in the church, and two of his sonnes to see the mariage solemnized which was accordingly done about the fifth of April [1614], and ever since we have had friendly commerce and trade, not only with Powhatan himself, but also with his subjects round about us; so as now I see no reason why the collonie should not thrive a pace.”